Te Akau Matamata Tuesday Preview

Te Akau New Zealand has five horses racing on Tuesday 7 January at Matamata.

Weather: fine, track: Dead4, rail: out 10 metres. 

2.12 p.m. R3 4 Phantom Witness (3 g Star Witness - Fandom) - Opie Bosson; was held together in a smart winning performance when trialling on 16 December at Te Aroha, following two seconds, and debuts in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres. By a Group One winner over 1200 metres, his dam, Fandom (Rock of Gibraltar), won twice to 1200 metres. Naturally athletic, he appears capable of a bold first-up effort despite drawing wide (9). Fixed odds: $2.30 & $1.25.

2.12 p.m. R3 11 Vicenza  (3 f Sacred Falls - Tonic) - Ryan Elliot; spelled after racing in September and galloped home solidly after missing the start when trialling on 16 December at Te Aroha. The draw (8) dictates being ridden off the pace, but from a mare, Tonic (Blues Traveller), that won three stakes wins over 1600 metres, look for her finding the line with purpose. Fixed odds: $26.00 & $4.60. 

2.47 p.m. R4 4 Kylie Bax  (4 m Pentire - Platinum Blond) -Jason Waddell; found the line from well back for fifth here in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 28 December, and appears suited stepping in distance for the $10,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres. Drawn barrier seven, she meets a competitive field but rates a top five chance. Fixed odds: $14.00 & $3.80.

2.47 p.m. R4 8 Combat Queen  (3 f Pierro - Missy Cummings) - Opie Bosson; improved on two good fifths with a dominant win in the Maiden 1600 metres on 11 December at Hastings, and eligible for the $11,500 bonus in the $10,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 1400 metres. Certainly a step up, but ideally drawn (1) and the manner of her win suggests she can measure up. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.90. 

3.57 p.m. R6 2 Leaderboard  (5 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy) - Chelsea Burdan (a3); made it consecutive wins in the Rating 72 2000 metres during Cup Week at Riccarton, and given time (55 days) he contests the $11,000 Rating 72 1600 metres with weight relief to 57.5kgs. A staying type, with races like the Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) in mind, he clocked the fastest last 600m when finishing fourth fresh-up over 1300 metres at Taupo, and look for him to be winding up from off the pace. Fixed odds: $2.60 & $1.30.

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